Brazil, where Angel goes to seek his fortunes after rejecting Tess, is a symbol of Angel's idealized vision of the world. Brazil is an exotic, far-off fantasy land to the 19th century English characters, and Angel thinks of it as an unspoiled place to practice his agricultural skills. When he actually gets there, however, he becomes sick and weak, and all his farming endeavors fail. Angel's experience in Brazil is symbolic of his relationship with Tess; it is romanticized and idealized, but then the stark reality appears and destroys his fantasy.
Get the entire Tess of the d'Urbervilles LitChart as a printable PDF.
Brazil Symbol Timeline in Tess of the d'Urbervilles
The timeline below shows where the symbol Brazil appears in Tess of the d'Urbervilles. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 39
In his wanderings Angel noticed a sign advertising Brazil as a place to pursue agriculture. The idea attracts him, and he imagines Tess joining...
(full context)
...warning, and his mother is surprised Tess is not with him. He tells them about Brazil but they question him about Tess. They are not angry at Angel for his marriage,...
(full context)
Chapter 40
...together Angel admits he and Tess are apart right now, and he is going to Brazil alone. Izz says that Retty has had a nervous breakdown, and Marian drinks so much...
(full context)
...home and Angel, feeling suddenly rebellious against society, asks Izz to come with him to Brazil. He claims he has been betrayed and needs relief, and Izz immediately accepts, despite Angel's...
(full context)
Chapter 41
At the same time Angel is sick with fever in Brazil, and has found that the paradise he expected is in fact harsh and not at...
(full context)
Chapter 43
...Izz just told her, which is the story of Angel asking her to come to Brazil with him. Tess goes white and then starts to cry. She resolves to write to...
(full context)
Chapter 49
At that moment Angel is in the interior of Brazil, riding towards the coast. He has had a hard time in Brazil, as have all...
(full context)
